Iranian President helicopter crashes in mountainous area
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raissi had to make an emergency “hard landing” in a mountainous and rural area close to the Iran-Azerbaijan border on May 19, 2024. Due to cloudy weather, emergency services were unable to reach the site.
Raissi had earlier met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev to participate in the inauguration of a dam on the Araxe River near the Iranian prefecture of Khoda Afarin. The incident occurred as the return trip to Tabriz, where Raissi was scheduled to visit an oil refinery, was underway.
Three helicopters were part of the presidential convoy. Only one had to make the emergency landing; the other two helicopters continued their journey without issues. According to footage of the visit recorded hours before the incident, the helicopter involved seems to have been a Bell UH-1N Twin Huey.
Des images du vol du Président #Raissi quelques heures avant le crash au nord de l’#Iran sont rapportées.
Les équipes de recherche tentent de retrouver l’hélicoptère qui se trouverait dans une zone autour de la mine de cuivre de #Sangun.
La visibilité horizontale était… pic.twitter.com/Puy3tcFieD
— DiplomaticEcoStrategist🍁 (@UlefossImir) May 19, 2024
Various Iranian media outlets reported that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Governor Malik Rahmati, and other officials were also on board the helicopter. The landing reportedly occurred near the Dizmar forest, which is difficult to access due to its rugged terrain.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed the incident on television, mentioning that the weather impeded rescue efforts.
New footage shows search and rescue teams are yet trying to locate the helicopter carrying #Iran’s president which had earlier crashed. pic.twitter.com/PO4NT3HcKo
— Iran Nuances (@IranNuances) May 19, 2024
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raissi had to make an emergency “hard landing” in a mountainous and…
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